Regeneration means the future restoration of the entire earth to its original, pre-curse condition, which occurs when Christ establishes His kingdom.
Jesus uses the term in Matthew 19:28, connecting it to the time when He will sit on His glorious throne. Les Feldick explains that regeneration involves the lifting of the curse and the earth being made over like it was in the Garden of Eden, which happens when the kingdom is set up.
Matthew 19:28 — This is the key verse where Jesus explicitly uses the term 'regeneration' in the context of His kingdom and the disciples' future rule.
In Matthew 19:28, Jesus tells His disciples, "Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel." This verse indicates that regeneration is a future event tied to Christ's enthronement and the disciples' rulership. It speaks of a time of restoration and renewal. Peter's question in Matthew 19:27, "Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?" prompts Jesus' response. The context shows that the disciples were focused on the restoration of the kingdom to Israel, as seen in Acts 1:6: "Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?"
Les Feldick teaches that regeneration refers to the earth being restored to its original state, as it was in the Garden of Eden before the curse. He often uses the analogy of a dead car battery that needs to be recharged or regenerated to become useful again. In like manner, the earth, after the cataclysmic events of the tribulation, will be renovated and made beautiful and productive. This regeneration is intimately connected to the Kingdom, when Christ, the Son of Man, will sit on His throne in glory, ruling from Jerusalem. At that time, the twelve disciples (with Judas excluded) will sit on twelve thrones, judging or ruling the twelve tribes of Israel. This promise is part of the disciples' expectation of a restored kingdom for Israel, a kingdom that would be greater than David's or Solomon's because the Messiah Himself would be King.
Les teaches that the regeneration is when the curse is lifted, the tribulation has ended, and the Kingdom is ready to come in. The earth will revert to a Garden of Eden state, being beautiful, mostly landmass, and fully productive. This restoration is a key aspect of the Kingdom that Israel anticipated, as seen in their question about restoring the kingdom to Israel.
Jesus promised the twelve disciples (Judas excluded) that they would sit on twelve thrones, judging or ruling the twelve tribes of Israel. This promise is given in the context of the regeneration, when Christ will sit on His throne of glory. Les emphasizes that this is plain language and a literal promise to the disciples.
The disciples were looking for the restoration of the kingdom to Israel. Les explains that this kingdom expectation is rooted in the Abrahamic covenant and the hope of a great kingdom like David's or Solomon's, but greater because the Messiah Himself would be King. This is the kingdom that will be established after the tribulation when Christ returns.
Kingdom Defined as Restoration of Earth
Les defines the Kingdom as the time when the earth will be regenerated, the curse lifted, and it will become the utopia people have sought. He shows that the apostles expected this restoration.
Regeneration Explained as Restoration
Les explains that regeneration means to make something over like it was before. He connects it to the lifting of the curse and the earth returning to a Garden of Eden state when Christ rules.
Thrones for the Twelve
Les highlights Jesus' promise that in the regeneration, the twelve disciples would sit on twelve thrones ruling the twelve tribes of Israel, with Judas excluded.
Regeneration in the Context of Israel's Repentance
Les points out that the regeneration is when the earth will be brought back to Eden, and emphasizes that this promise of thrones was on Christ's mind, tied to Israel's repentance.
Battery Analogy
Les uses the analogy of a dead storage battery to illustrate regeneration: just as a battery is regenerated to work again, the entire planet will be regenerated, with the curse removed and the earth made beautiful and productive.
Plain Promise to the Twelve
Les reiterates that regeneration means things are put back as they were originally, and that Christ's promise to the twelve to sit on thrones is plain language, excluding Judas.
From Matthew 19 Context
Les shows that the disciples' question about rewards leads to Jesus' promise about the regeneration and their future rule over Israel, emphasizing that this is a literal promise to the twelve.
Future Restoration and Kingdom
Les teaches that after the tribulation, the earth will be brought back to a Garden of Eden state, leading to the thousand-year reign of Christ, which is the kingdom anticipated in the Old Testament.
Matthew 19:28: And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
This is the primary verse where Jesus uses the term 'regeneration' and connects it to the future kingdom and the disciples' rule.
Acts 1:6: When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
This shows the disciples' expectation of a restored kingdom for Israel, which is related to the regeneration.
In the context of the Kingdom, regeneration refers to the earth's restoration, not individual rebirth. Les Feldick emphasizes that it means the earth is made over like it was in the beginning, as seen in the battery analogy.
The regeneration will happen after the tribulation when Christ sets up His kingdom. It is when the curse is lifted and the earth is restored to its Edenic state, as Les explains.
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